Solar Crisis (1990)

Directors:

Richard C. Sarafian
Alan Smithee

Writers (WGA):

Takeshi Kawata (novel)
Joe Gannon (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 July 1990 (Japan)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

In the year 2050, the battle to save the earth will be fought on the sun.

Plot:

A huge solar flare is predicted to fry the Earth. Astronauts must go to the Sun to drop a talking bomb...

Plot Keywords:

Astronaut | Earth | Sun | Bomb | Surgical Instruments

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tim Matheson	...	Steve Kelso
Charlton Heston	...	Adm. 'Skeet' Kelso
Peter Boyle	...	Arnold Teague
Annabel Schofield	...	Alex Noffe
Corin Nemec	...	Mike Kelso (as Corin 'Corky' Nemec)
Tetsuya Bessho	...	Ken Minami
Jack Palance	...	Travis
Dorian Harewood	...	Borg
Paul Koslo	...	Haas
Sandy McPeak	...	Gurney
Silvana Gallardo	...	T.C.
Dan Shor	...	Harvard
Scott Allan Campbell	...	McBride
Frantz Turner	...	Lamare
Richard S. Scott	...	Meeks
Eric James	...	Louisiana
David Ursin	...	Kovac
Paul Williams	...	Freddy the Bomb (voice)
Brenda Bakke	...	Claire Beeson
Rhonda Dotson	...	Waitress
William Wallace	...	Pohl (as William A. Wallace)
Michael Berryman	...	Matthew
Roy Jenson	...	Bartender
Jimmie F. Skaggs	...	Biker
Chris Nash	...	'Corvette' driver
H.M. Wynant	...	IXL executive #1
Paul Carr	...	IXL executive #2
Milt Kogan	...	IXL man #2 (Baldy)
Arnold Quinn	...	IXL man #3 (Ponytail)
Louie Elias	...	IXL man #4 (Action Louie)
John Blyth Barrymore	...	Avery (as John Barrymore)
Carole Hemingway	...	Rhonda
Don Craig	...	TV anchorman
Jerry Hauck	...	Cpl. Flynn
John Hugh	...	Dr. Dufait
Bob Maroff	...	Camel rider
Steve Welles	...	Prophet
Rick Dorio	...	Bandit #2
Mindy Rickles	...	Astronaut #2
Nick Gambella	...	Astronaut #3
Lehua Reid	...	Astronaut #4
Jimmy Austin	...	Tech
Sherwood Ball	...	Little Al's singer
Carmen Twillie	...	Army band singer
Richard Eden	...	Medical tech
Roy T. Fukagawa	...	Little Al's cook
Robert Hawkins	...	Security officer #1
Jonathan Vane	...	Security officer #2 (as Jon Tabler)
Tammy Maples	...	Mrs. Steve Kelso
Ted Montue	...	Bridge officer
Richard Terrile	...	Hologram operator
Michael Stanhope	...	Astronomer
Kathryn Spitz	...	IXL receptionist
Ann C. Fink	...	Vidphone operator (as Ann Fink)
Saida Pagan	...	Correspondent (as Saida Rodrigues Pagan)
Stephen R. Kujala	...	Robotruck
Tracy Jones Stateman	...	Helios computer (voice)
Terrence Beasor	...	Narrator (voice)
Mario Roberts	...	Bandit
Vince Deadrick Jr.	...	Bandit (as Vince Deadrick)
Larry Duran	...	Bandit
Stacy Elias	...	Bandit
Eurlyne Epper	...	Bandit
Bill Hart	...	Bandit

Directed by
Richard C. Sarafian		(as Alan Smithee)
Alan Smithee		(really Richard C. Sarafian)

Writing credits (WGA)
Takeshi Kawata		(novel)
Joe Gannon		(screenplay) and
Crispan Bolt		(screenplay)

Produced by
Richard Edlund	....	producer
Takeshi Kawata	....	executive producer
Joan McCormick-Cooper	....	producer: additional production
Morris Morishima	....	producer
Barbara Nelson	....	associate producer
James Nelson	....	producer
Takehito Sadamura	....	executive producer
Tsuneyuki Morishima	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Russell Carpenter		(director of photography) (as Russ Carpenter)

Film Editing by
Richard Trevor

Casting by
Diane Dimeo

Production Design by
George Jenson

Art Direction by
John P. Bruce

Set Decoration by
Donna Stamps

Costume Design by
Robert Turturice

Makeup Department
Bonita DeHaven	....	key makeup artist: additional production (as Bonita Dehaven)
Susan Mills	....	key hair stylist: additional production
Paula Sutor	....	key makeup artist
Larry Waggoner	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Robert J. Anderson	....	production manager
Ronald Colby	....	production manager (as Ronald B. Colby)
Hideki Furuoka	....	executive in charge of production
Kim Kurumada	....	production manager
Jerry Sobul	....	production manager: additional production
Yuki Taira	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carole Keligian	....	second assistant director: additional production
Robert Roda	....	second assistant director
Robert Scott	....	dga trainee
Jerry Sobul	....	first assistant director: additional production
Michael-McCloud Thompson	....	second assistant director
Jerry Ziesmer	....	first assistant director
Leo Zisman	....	first assistant director (as Leonid Zisman)

Art Department
Verna Bagby	....	construction foreman
Brent Boates	....	storyboard illustrator
Gina B. Cranham	....	set designer (as Gina Cranham)
Tom Cranham	....	illustrator (as Thomas A. Cranham)
John Curtis	....	art department researcher
Stephen Dane	....	assistant art director
Tony DiSalvo	....	assistant property master (as Anthony DiSalvo)
Tony DiSalvo	....	property master: additional production
Dayle Dodge	....	art department coordinator
Beverli Eagan	....	set designer (as Beverly Eagan)
James Eric	....	construction foreman
Jerry Etzler	....	construction foreman
Edward Eyth	....	designer: special props (as Ed Eyth)
Andy Hanlin	....	construction coordinator (as Andrew Hanlen)
John L. Jensen	....	storyboard illustrator (as John Jensen)
Mark Luine	....	property master (as Mark Alan Luine)
Mauro Maressa	....	art department supervisor
Syd Mead	....	conceptual artist: future
Duff Miller	....	assistant property master
Simon Murton	....	designer: Robotruck
Simon Murton	....	designer: Vertol
Wilhelm Pfau	....	production buyer (as Wilhelm G. Pfau)
Peter Samish	....	assistant art director
John Scherer	....	lead man (as John J.C. Scherer)
Sal Sommatino	....	property master
Tim Van Wormer	....	on-set dresser
Bryce Walmsley	....	construction foreman
Christof	....	musical digital props (uncredited)
Anders Falk	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Mark Fenlason	....	foam fabricator (uncredited)
Mark Fenlason	....	special set construction (uncredited)
Peter Tosti Stephenson	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Michael Yeaman	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Walter Anderson	....	boom operator
David Baldwin	....	sound editor: earth sounds
Gregg Baxter	....	supervising adr editor
Wallace R. Bearden	....	adr mixer (as Wally Beardon)
Bob Beemer	....	additional sound re-recording mixer: additional production
Tom Bellfort	....	adr editor
Lon Bender	....	sound effects designer (as Lon E. Bender)
Lon Bender	....	sound effects supervisor (as Lon E. Bender)
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as David Campbell)
Dennis Carr	....	production sound mixer (as Dennis W. Carr)
Victor Ray Ennis	....	assistant sound editor (as Victor Ennis)
Sukey Fontelieu	....	foley supervisor
George Fredrick	....	dialogue editor
George Fredrick	....	foley editor
Scott Martin Gershin	....	sound editor: space sounds
Bo Harwood	....	sound mixer: additional production
Kevin Hearst	....	dialogue editor (as Kevin Hearst 'Raoul')
Kevin Hearst	....	foley editor (as Kevin Hearst 'Raoul')
Michael Hoskinson	....	assistant sound editor
Chris Jargo	....	adr editor (as J. Chris Jargo)
Doc Kane	....	foley mixer
Mark Lanza	....	additional sound
William L. McCaughey	....	additional sound re-recording mixer: additional production (as William Caughey)
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Kelly Oxford	....	assistant sound editor
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John Reitz)
Dan M. Rich	....	dialogue editor (as Dan Rich)
Dan M. Rich	....	foley editor (as Dan Rich)
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Wylie Stateman	....	sound effects designer
Wylie Stateman	....	sound effects supervisor
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Christina Tucker	....	adr mixer (as Chris Tucker)
Mark Lanza	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Jensen	....	special effects: additional production
Kelly Kerby	....	special effects coordinator
William A. Klinger	....	electronic effects coordinator (as William Klinger Jr.)
Steven Kosakura	....	pyrotechnician
Michael O'Connor	....	assistant special effects coordinator
Richard Edlund	....	special effects (uncredited)
Randy Jonsson	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Wesley Smith	....	camera operator: special effects (uncredited)
Ken Tarallo	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Thad Beier	....	software support: PDI
Thad Beier	....	technical support: PDI
Gary D. Bierend	....	mechanisms (as Gary Bierend)
Chris Bowler	....	model shop coordinator
Douglas Calli	....	electronics technician
Chris Cowan	....	production assistant: model shop (as Christian Cowan)
Daniel Dayton	....	visual effects first assistant camera plate
Roberto dePalma	....	production assistant: model shop
Larry DeUnger	....	model maker
Jamie Dixon	....	animator: PDI
Jamie Dixon	....	technical supervisor: PDI
John Donnelly	....	visual effects key grip
Ken Dudderar	....	machine shop foreman
John Eaves	....	model shop illustrator
Leslie Ekker	....	chief model maker
Theresa Ellis	....	animator: PDI
Glenn Entis	....	executive producer: PDI
Robert Eyslee	....	visual effects chief lighting technician (as Rob Eyslee)
Julia Frey	....	production assistant: visual effects editorial
Kento Gebo	....	model maker (as Kent Gebo)
Adam Gelbart	....	model maker
Gary George	....	visual effects camera production assistant
Pete Gerard	....	model maker
Ron Gress	....	head model painter
Rex Grignon	....	animator: PDI
John Hagen-Brenner	....	production assistant: model shop
Erik Haraldsted	....	production assistant: model shop
Alan Harding	....	matte camera
Bret A. Harding	....	visual effects camera production assistant (as Brett Harding)
Mark L. Hartman	....	production assistant: stage (as Mark Hartman)
Phillip Hartmann	....	model maker
Robert L. Johnston	....	mechanisms keyman (as Robert Johnston)
Neil Krepela	....	visual effects producer
Donna Langston	....	visual effects coordinator
Kenneth A. Larson	....	model maker (as Ken Larson)
Bruce MacRae	....	model maker
Jim May	....	assistant visual effects editor
Gerald McClung	....	model maker
Pat McClung	....	supervising model maker
David McCullough	....	producer: PDI
Douglas Miller	....	production assistant: model shop (as Doug Miller)
Michele Moen	....	matte painter
Paul Ozzimo	....	production assistant: model shop
Jeff Platt	....	electronics technician
Michael Possert	....	production assistant: model shop (as Mike Possert)
Carl Rosendahl	....	president: PDI
Scott Schneider	....	production assistant: model shop
Rod Schumacher	....	model maker (as Roderick Schumacher)
Nick Seldon	....	model maker (as Nicholas Seldon)
Christine Sellin	....	CG coordinator
Ray Shenusay	....	model shop design consultant
Andrew M. Siegel	....	production assistant: model shop (as Andy Siegel)
Morgan Tanaka	....	visual effects camera production assistant
Patrick Van Auken	....	visual effects grip (as Pat Van Auken)
Joe Viskocil	....	pyrotechnician (as Joseph Viskocil)
Jon Warren	....	production assistant: model shop
Greg Wolff	....	model shop purchasing agent
Maryjane Zelicskovics	....	model shop controller
Nelson Broskey	....	model maker (uncredited)
Colin Campbell	....	effects camera (uncredited)
Gus Duron	....	visual effects editor: Video Image (uncredited)
Evan Jacobs	....	miniatures (uncredited)
Kevin Scott Mack	....	model painter (uncredited)
Alan G. Markowitz	....	optical effects cameraman (uncredited)
Jeff Nicholson	....	optical camera operator (uncredited)
Jim Rygiel	....	digital effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Andy Armstrong	....	stunts
David Burton	....	stunts
Steven Lambert	....	stunts (as Steve Lambert)
James Lew	....	stunts
Billy D. Lucas	....	stunts (as Billy Lucas)
George A. Sack Jr.	....	stunts (as George Sack Jr.)
David LeBell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Patrick Bock	....	still photographer: additional production
Curtis Bradford	....	key grip (as Curtiss Bradford)
Malcolm Doran II	....	dolly grip
Cobie Fair	....	best boy grip
Steven Finestone	....	camera operator
Steven Finestone	....	director of photography: additional production (as Steve Finestone)
Ernest Garza	....	still photographer
Scott Hering	....	second assistant camera (as Scott Herring)
Mark Jackson	....	first assistant camera
Reginald F. Lake	....	chief lighting technician
Michael LaViolette	....	gaffer: additional production (as Mike Laviolette)
Duane Mieliwocki	....	coordinator: camera equipment
Rob Neville	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Bob Neville)
Peter Parks	....	photographer: special solar imaging
Dylan Shephard	....	key grip: additional production
George M. Chappell	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Ellsworth Chou	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dan Kneece	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Ed Maloney	....	electrician (uncredited)
Kory Mills	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Jeff Murrell	....	electrician (uncredited)
Daryl 'Dazz' Reynolds	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael J. Schwartz	....	electrician (uncredited)
Steve Slocomb	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Mark Streapy	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Maura Alvarez	....	technical animator
Colin Campbell	....	production assistant: animation
Phil Cummings	....	animator
Holly Hudson	....	supervisor: technical animation
Bill Knoll	....	assistant animator (as William Knoll)
Mauro Maressa	....	animation supervisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Meg Goodwin	....	key costumer
Jill M. Ohanneson	....	costume supervisor
Scott Tomlinson	....	set costumer (as Scott Barr Tomlinson)
Scott Tomlinson	....	wardrobe supervisor: additional production

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Charles Coleman	....	editor: additional production (as Charles V. Coleman)
Dawn Michelle King	....	second assistant editor
William Pine	....	color timer (as Bill Pine)
Linda Schubell-Sundlin	....	second assistant editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer
Hazel Trevor	....	assistant editor
Joni Waller	....	post-production coordinator (as Joni Harding)

Music Department
Michael Boddicker	....	composer: additional music
Dan Carlin Sr.	....	music editor
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor
Maurice Jarre	....	music supervisor
Shawn Murphy	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Paul Howes	....	transportation coordinator
Les Orrison	....	transportation captain
Ken Plumlee	....	picture car coordinator
Kelly Aldrich	....	driver (uncredited)
Michael Burnette	....	transportation (uncredited)
Dennis Janovici	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)
Glenn Midcap	....	driver (uncredited)
Derek Raser	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Fuyo Arimoto	....	assistant: Mr. Morishima
Connie Barzaghi	....	script supervisor
Susan Becton	....	production coordinator
Ronald L. Carr	....	location manager: additional production (as Ron Carr)
Grace Cobiella	....	production secretary: additional production
Janet L. Earl	....	coordinator: Video Image
Stephen Ehrensberger	....	production assistant
Leslie Falkinburg	....	assistant production accountant
Peter Field	....	assistant: special solar imaging
Rod Findley	....	assistant: Mr. Morishima
Andrew M. Flinn	....	production assistant (as Andrew Flinn)
Laurie Foi	....	assistant: Arthur Marks, additional production
Rhonda C. Gunner	....	video and graphic displays: Video Image
Richard E. Hollander	....	video and graphic displays: Video Image (as Richard Hollander)
Lisa Howard	....	production accountant
Christine Iso	....	assistant to executive producer
Jon LaPage	....	production assistant
Stevie Lazo	....	production accountant: additional production
Donna Lipshin	....	coordinator: stage
Pete Martinez	....	crew: Video Image
Charles Mcdonald	....	title designer (as Charles McDonald)
Gregory L. McMurry	....	video and graphic displays: Video Image (as Gregory McMurray)
Patricia O'Reilly	....	production assistant
Suzi Parks	....	assistant: special solar imaging
Mary S. Ramirez	....	production coordinator: additional production (as Mary Ramirez)
Patrick Russ	....	assistant: Mr. Jarre
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Mark Spencer	....	production assistant
Anne Strick	....	unit publicist (as Ann Strick)
Monte Swann	....	crew: Video Image
Ramona Sánchez-Waggoner	....	production accountant (as Ramona Waggoner)
Richard Terrile	....	technical advisor (as Ricahrd Terrile Ph.D.)
Leslie A. Tokunaga	....	assistant production coordinator
Christopher Ursitti	....	location manager
Michael Vasquez	....	accounting clerk
Jonathan Wachtel	....	production assistant
John C. Wash	....	video and graphic displays: Video Image (as John Wash)
Annie Welles	....	script supervisor: additional production
Gene Winfield	....	provider: strip star Corvette
Allan A. Apone	....	special vehicle fabrication supervisor (uncredited)
Steven Kosakura	....	stage electronics (uncredited)
Brian McMillan	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Robert Sobul	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Asahi Breweries
• Gakken Co. Ltd.
• Japan America Picture Company
• Lotte Company
• Mitsui Company Ltd.
• NHK
• Nippon Steel
• Nissho Iwai Corporation
• Toppan Printing
• Yamaichi Securities Ltd.

Distributors

• Bridge Entertainment Group (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Trimark Pictures (USA) (dubbed)
• Vidmark Entertainment (video)

Special Effects

• Boss Film Studios
• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• Buena Vista Sound  sound re-recording
• Chandler Group, The  additional opticals
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Howard A. Anderson Company  titles and additional opticals
• Keylite Production Services  production services and equipment
• Lexington Scenery & Props  construction
• Meade Instruments  special lenses
• Neotek  futuristic props
• Skywalker Sound  additional sound re-recording facilities
• Solex Technologies Inc.  environmental control systems
• Soundelux  sound effects
• Time and Space Inc.  construction

Also Known As:

Runtime:

112 min | Japan:118 min (director's cut)

Country:

Japan | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #30410) | South Korea:12 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Baker, California, USA

Company:

Asahi Breweries

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Mike Kelso and Kovac fall to the desert floor at the end of their fight, the latter is obviously played by a stunt double. This is apparent from the wig he is wearing which comes off a bit at the nape of his neck.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "En prácticas: Instituto RTVE (#1.12)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Travis Rides Again

The problem is...

Here's the set up. Earth is going to be half fried by a giant flare the sun is getting ready to shoot off. A ship is sent to drop a bomb on the sun to make the flare go off away from Earth.

Not a bad premise, and the film has a lot going for it. But...

The problem is with a subplot. Half the population is in danger of being fried to death, and someone on Earth wants the mission to fail.

Why?

Otherwise there are great special effects, a few tense scenes with real conflict. If they had edited out that sub plot, it would be a much better film.

Still recommended for science fiction / space buffs. Worth a look.